Beck's Petrel
Pseudobulweria becki
A mostly dark-brown petrel with a white underbody and a strongly hooded appearance. Very similar to the larger Tahiti Petrel, but has a smaller, thinner bill and more rounded wings. Erratic flight style is much more fluid and “flappy” than that of Tahiti Petrel, which prefers to soar endlessly on long thin wings. Similar to Phoenix Petrel, but lacks a pale throat and a pale bar on the leading edge of the underwing.
Identification
It is dark brown above and on the head and throat. It is dark underneath the wings with a fairly distinct white wingbar. The belly and breast are white. It flies over open oceans with straight wings that are slightly bent back at the tips.
Taxonomy
- Scientific name
- Pseudobulweria becki
- Authority
- (Murphy, 1928)
- Order
- Procellariiformes
- Family
- Procellariidae
- Genus
- Pseudobulweria
Range and habitat
- Breeding range
- PO : likely breeds montane s New Ireland (ne Bismarck Arch.)
- Non-breeding range
- e Bismarck Arch., Buka to Temotu (Solomon Is.) and Vanuatu; also recorded Geelvink Bay and nc Moluccas
- Migration
- Complete migrants
Conservation
- Population trend
- declining
Photos
Distribution
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Madagascar Buttonquail
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Tiny, complexly patterned quail-like bird. Female has rufous sides, gray underparts, and black facial markings. Male is duller and browner. Found on the ground in a wide variety of habitats, including grassland, scrub, spiny forest, and western deciduous forest. Somewhat shy, though more approachable than quail. The song is a quick, pulsing series of low “hwo” notes. Male is similar to female quail, but smaller, and has weaker and less direct flight when flushed.
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